Expansion of Creech Air Force base has Indian Springs buzzing; new housing tract should sell quickly

INDIAN SPRINGS, Nev. — For the past several years, former Southern Nevada homebuilder Eric Horn has toyed with the idea of building in Indian Springs, which is about 25 miles north of Las Vegas.

In fact, Horn was such a believer that he bought land in Indian Springs several years ago right before the collapse of the economy.

Now, word has it that the area’s Air Force base – Creech – is on the verge of big-time growth. The base is bulging at the seams with noticeable buildings being added to the landscape.

However, the biggest problem is that Indian Springs’ housing currently consists almost exclusively of trailers. Many believe that airmen at Creech would jump at the idea of purchasing a home in Indian Springs rather than make the trip from Las Vegas.

Now, billboards in the area are touting the availability of new homes at a community proposed by Touchstone Living that is only 25 minutes away from the hubbub of Las Vegas.

Already, some 300 inquiries have been submitted for the construction of 40 homes. For everyone tired of traveling all the way home to Las Vegas, a housing subdivision priced from $230,000 is expected to start correcting the lack of housing in Indian Springs.

Touchstone is planning a community of single-story, four-bedroom homes in a town that has been crying for stick-built homes without having to drive south to Las Vegas to find them. Some people like Horn bet on the area several years ago, and Touchstone’s announcement should mark good returns on real estate in Indian Springs.

“The town is looking for ‘normal’ housing in the area,” said Aaron Alred, vice president of sales for Touchstone, adding that the rush to Indian Springs will also eventually see the arrival of Terrible Herbst, a Family Dollar store, Denny’s restaurant and a hotel-casino.

Alred, a 15-year veteran of the real estate business, said the four-bedroom, single-story offering element is perfect for the community, which prides itself on a school that is so well-respected that an estimated 15 percent of the students hail from Las Vegas.

“We should be selling by the end of August,” Alred said adding that Creech is supposed to double or triple in size. “They are decent lots with room for RVs,” he said. “From what we are hearing, Creech is supposed to double or triple in the near future.”

Construction of the single-family housing just east of U.S. 95 in Indian Springs should start around the end of August.

Horn, 71, has been in the building/development business for 45 years, invested in the Indian Springs area in 2005-2006.

“We’re also selling land and should be started building attached housing and townhomes in about six months,” said Horn, whose resume’ has included working with Metropolitan Homes and The Horn Group in Las Vegas.

Touchstone is spearheaded by long-time local builder Tom McCormick formerly of Astoria Homes. Ironically, the plans have a striking similarity to housing built in southwest Las Vegas by the Collins Brothers in the 1970s.

McCormick has other communities in Las Vegas, although the move into Indian Springs is undoubtedly the most interesting of the group.

Horn, 71, has been in the building/development business for 45 years, has believed in Indian Springs for many years.

“We bought the land there in 2005-2006,” said Horn, 71. “We’re now selling land and should be started in about six months with attached housing and town homes. The schools are excellent up there and 15 percent of the students are from Las Vegas.

“The switch is now turned on, and we have been waiting for this for a long time.”

While development is expected to attract a strong contingent of people from Creech, so, too, is the need for housing of adults working at the Indian Springs prison system just south of the town, along with others entering the job market.

That said, is the boom of growth headed for Jean about to be duplicated to the north? The Clark County Commission has been preparing for a huge growth spurt south of Las Vegas to Jean.

The drive to and from Las Vegas undoubtedly gets old, so McCormick and his team are about to eliminate the headache of travel on U.S. 95; and if the deck of cards plays out correctly, Horn should capitalize, too.

Further information can be found by calling 702-929-3134; or by visiting touchstoneliving.com.